Automatic crossing-gate



J. B. ATKINS. AUTOMATIC CROSSING GATE.

' APPLICATION FlLEDflAN. 30. 1918. 1,380,842. I

Patented J 111197 1921.

2 SHEETSSHEET I- J. B. ATKINS. AUTOMATIC CROSSING GATE. APPLICATION FILED JAN. 30, 191B.

Patented June 7; 1921'.

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JOSEPH B. ATKINS, OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA.

AUTOMATIC GRDSSING-GATE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June '7', 1921.

Application filed January 30, 1918. Serial No. 214,508.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Josnrri B. ATKINs, a citizen of the United States, residing at South Bend, in the county of Saint Joseph and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Crossing-Gates, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an (automatic railroad gate and has for its object the production of a simple and efficient means for moving the gate to a closed position as soon as a train approaches a railroad crossing and arrives within a predetermined distance therefrom.

Another object of this invention is the production of a simple and efficient means for swinging a railroad gate to a closed position. and releasing the gate for permit ting the same to automatically swing to an open position.

With these and other objects in view, this invention consists of certain novel constructions, combinations and arrangements of parts as will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the drawings: 1

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the gate and operating mechanism therefor, the electrical mechanism being shown in diagram,

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the gate operating mechanism,

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the outer end of the gate, showing the supporting rod carried thereby,

Fig. 4: isa side elevation of the circuit closing or controlling means for actuating the operating pawls.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary diagrammatic view of the pawls and relays associated with the gear wheel for actuating the gate, the relative position of the pawls being indicated in dotted lines when the operating or actuating relay is energized.

Fig. 6 :is a longitudinal sectional view through the pawl carried by the operating armature showing the manner of connect ing the same to the operating armature.

Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional view through the telescopic link showing the manner in which the upper section of the linlr is slidably mounted within the lower section of the link.

It of course should be understood that the railroad track is divided into a plurality of blocks is, usual with such signals and magnet 2 by means of suitable connecting or conducting wires 3. A battery 4 is electrically connected to one of the wires 3 for the purpose of furnishing an electric current to the relay 2 when the circuit is closed across the rails 1. An armature 5 is secured to the relay 2, and this armature 5 is projected over the relay 2 so as to be attracted by the relay 2 when the same is energized. The armature 5 is provided with a depending end 6, which end 6 is connected to a vertically extending circuit closing arm 7, the arm 7 being supported upon the insulated block 8. A contact post or arm 9, 1s supported upon the block 8 upon one side of the circuit closing lever or arm 7.. A contact arm 10 is supported upon the block 8 upon the opposite sides of the contact spring or arm 7. This arm 7 is adapted to normally remain in contact relation with the conducting arm 10 as the armature 5 is retracted by means of the relay 2, the spring 7 may be thrown into contact relation with the arm 9. The arm 9 is electrically connected to a wire 11 and this wire 11 is connected to the contact arm 57. The arm or spring 7 is connected to the magnets 12 by means of a wire 50. These magnets 12 carry an armature 13, which actuates a bell 14. The magnets 12 and armature 13 together with the bell 14 constitute a local signal or alarm bell, the bell being in circuit with the battery 49 through the wire 15.

A gate 16 is carried by a shaft 17 and a driving gear 181s also carried by the shaft 17 and is adapted to rotate with the shaft 17 for the purpose of swinging the gate 16 to a closed position. An operating gear 19 is supported upon a shaft 20 to one side of the gear 18 and an auxiliary driving gear 20 is carried upon one side of the gear 19 and meshes with the driving gear 18.

cam ring 21 is carried by the gear 19 and this cam ring 21 is provided with, off-set portions 22 for the purpose of operating a circuit closing means 23, which circuit closing means is adapted to actuate the driving relay and the releasing relay. A coil spring 2 1 is connected to the closure gate 16 and this coil spring 24 is anchored in engagement with anchoring eye 25 adapted to be supported adjacent the closure gate 16, and this spring 24 is adapted to swing the gate 16 to a vertical position, after the operating gear has been released from the operating pawls as will be hereinafter described.

A driving relay 26 is electrically connected with a circuit closing means 23 by means of a wire 27, which wire 27 engages a tuated by means of the relay 26 and this armature 33 carries an operating pawl 35 at the outer end thereof. The pawl 35 is held upon the outer end of the armature 33 against upward swinging movement but is capable of swinging downwardly against the tension of the spring 36, which spring is secured at one end to a pin 37 carried by the armature 33 and is also engaged by the upwardly extending finger 38. This pawl 35 is adapted to engage the teeth of the gear 19 and upon each downward movement 01 the armature 33, the pawl 35 is adapted to move or rotate the operating gear 19 the distance ofone tooth. An auxiliary or escapement pawl 39 is mounted below the pawl 35 and connected thereto by means of the rod 40, and is capable of downward swinging movement to permit the pawls 35 and 39 to return to their normal position after the pawl 35 has forced the operating gear 19 to rotate into the distance of one tooth. The pawl 39 is provided with an upwardly extending finger 40 this finger 40 being engaged by means of the coil spring 41, this coil spring 41 being anchored upon a pin 42, the pin 42 being secured to any suitable or desired support. The pawl 39 is connected to an armature 43 carried by the relay 44 by means of a rod 45, and this relay 44 constitutes a releasing relay. This relay 44 is electrically connected to an electric conducting wire 45, this wire 45 being in turn electrically connected to a spring contact arm 46, and the relay 44 is also electrically connected to a wire 47, the wire 47 being connected to a wire 48, this wire 48 being electrically connected to a battery 49. The battery 49 is in turn connected to a wire 50, the wire 50 being electrically connected to the wire 15 as shown in Fig. 1.

It should be understood that as the relay 26 is energized, the pawl 35 will be swung downwardly thereby moving the gear wheel 19 into the distance of one tooth and as the relay 26 is deenergized, the pawl 35 will be returned to its normal position, ready to engage the next adjacent tooth of the wheel 19, the pawl 39 merely acting as an escapement pawl or means for preventing the return of the gear wheel 19 after once having been moved to the distance of one tooth. lVhen it is desired to permit the gate 15 to return to its upright position, the relay 44 will be energized, thereby pulling both of the pawls 35 and 39 downwardly to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1 out of engagement with the teeth of the gear wheel 19, in this way permitting the spring 24 to swing the gate 15 to its proper position. It should be understood that the pawl 39 is supported upon a pivot carried by a suitable support 41 and in other words is anchored firmly and does not have bodily movement upwardly or downwardly but merely swings around the pivotal support as will be clearly understood by considering the drawing. The pawl 35, however, is moved bodily in a downward position when the relay 26 is energized, but this pawl 35 may not swing independently upwardly relative to the armature 35, for the reason that the pawl 35 is provided with a transversely extending rib 38' for preventing the independent upward swinging movement of the pawl 35 relative the armature 33. This rib 38 extends across the armature 33 in the rear of the connecting pin 33 as illustrated in Fig. 6. This pawl 35,'however-, may be swung downwardly to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1 when the relay 44 is energized for the purpose of drawing these pawls out of engagement with the gear wheel 19. 7

As shown in Fig. 1, it will be seen that the wire 48 is electrically connected to a spring contact arm 51, this contact arm 51 being provided with a depending offset portion 52, extending through the aperture 53 formed in the supporting or guiding arm 54, this arm 54 being supported upon the insulating block 31.

As shown in Fig.1, the contact arm 10 is electrically connected to the wire 55, and this wire 55 is electrically connected to a spring contact arm 56 carried by the circuit closing means 23. This circuit closing means 23 is provided with an outer contact arm 57, this arm 57 being electrically connected to a wire 11 by means of an auxiliary wire 58. The outer arms 57 and 46 are connected together by means of an insulated 7 closedacross track 1, energizingmagnet 2 and alarm magnet 12 from battery'l. Energizin-g the magnet 2, depresses armature 5, thus moving extension 6 and member 7 of control switch 8, making contact between members 7 and 9, closing the driving circuit from driving battery 49-through wire '50 members 7 and 9, circuit 11 members 23 and 28, wire 27 through magnet 26, wire 29 mem- 'ber 30,- throu gh contact 53 member 51, wire 48 completing the circuit to battery 49. Energizing the magnet 26 depresses the driving armature 33, carrying with it pawl 35, which is pivoted at the end of armature 33, free partial rotation is shown dotted, but prevented from counter-rotation further thanthestraight line as'shown by stop 38. The depressing of the driving arm 33, imparts a rotary motion to gear 19 a predetermined distance. This partial rotation is held by a detent pawl 39, and is transmitted through trunnion 20, pinion 20', gear 18, trunnion 17 to the gate, forming one step in the lowering of the gate which is accomplished'step by'step through the operation of the magnet.

The depressing of the driving armature 33, and adjustable stop 34, engages a portion of member 30, at a predetermined point depressing member30, and breaking the contact 53 with member 51, member 51 being prevented from further depression by means of a stop 54. This breaking of the contact at 53, interrupts the current through 26, allowing armature 33 to return to the normal position. Pawl 35 being free to a partial rotation, rotates sufficient to'clear the teeth of gear 19 as the driving armature rises and is returned tothe driving position by means of thespring 36 connected to the bell crank 380f pawl 35 and driving armature at 37. I

' The cycle above described is again 1' peated on contact being made between members 30 and 51 through 53, and is continued until the gate reaches a horizontal position, at which time the cam at 22 engages the secondary control switch 57 making contact at 59 between members 46 and 56 and breaking the contact at 60 between members 23 and 28, thus opening the driving circuit and demagnetizing magnet 26. p This condition obtains as long asthe train, or rolling stock, is within the block. I 4 0n the train leaving the block, circuit 3 is opened, demagnetizing magnet 2, releasing armature 5,"and through spring action closing the release circuit, establishing a circuit from battery 49 through 50, through members 7 and 10, niembers 56 and 46 energizing magnet 44 through 47 this completing the circuit to the battery. The magnetizing of'44 depresses the release armature 43 which transmits its motion through 45 to pawl 39 and through link 40 to pawl '35 withdrawing both pawls from contact with lease circuit, demagnetizing magnet 44 which 7 permits pawls 39 and 35 to again engage gear 19,"being actuated by the springs 41 and 36.

The link 40, is of the telescoping pattern as shown in Fig. 7 this design being necessitated in order that the depressing of driving armature 33 will not disengage detent pawl 39, but that the depressing of release armature '43 will'transmit motion through links 45 and 40 to pawl 35. g

' I't'should be understood that the pawl 35 and thef-pawl 39 are connected by means'of a telescopic link 40, the link being secured to the respective pawls in front of their pivot point. The upper section of the telescopic link 40 is slidably mounted within the 1101 low tubular section of the telescopic link and is provided with laterally extending pins 0, which pins 0 work within the longitudinallyextending slot at formed in the tubular section of the link 40. It will therefore be seen that the pawl '35 may be moved downwardly without operatingithe pawl 39, due to the fact that the pins 0 may travel clownwardly within the slats cl formed in the lower tubular section of the link. However when the relay 44 is energized the pawl 39 will be swung downwardly, thereby alsothrowing the pawl 35 downwardly and releasing both of the pawls 39 and 35 from engagement with the gear wheel 19.

It of course should be understood that certain obvious detail mechanical changes may be made in the present invention, without departing from the spirit of the invention, so long as these changes fall within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is p 1. A gate closing mechanism comprising a gate, a control magnet, a circuit for actuating said control magnet; a control switch actuated by said control magnet; a driving magnet 'for'closing said gate;'a release magnet; an interrupter switch; a secondary controlled switch; an operating circuit connecting said control switch, said secondary control switch, said drivingmagn'et and said interrupter switch with a source oi. electrical supply for-actuating said driving magnet and closing said gate; a releasing circuit connecting said control switch with said secondary controlswitch, and said release magnet Wltha source of electrical supply; and means for actuating said secondary control switch at selected intervals.

2. A gate closing mechanism comprising a gate; a control magnet; a circuit for actuating, said control magnet; a control switch actuated by said control magnet; a driving magnet for closing said gate; a release magnet; an interrupter switch; a secondarycontrol switch; an operating circuit connecting said control switch, said secondary control switch, said driving magnet and said interrupter switch with a source of electrical supply for actuating said driving magnet and closing said gate a second circuit connecting said control switch with a secondary control switch, and said release magnet with a source of electrical'supply; and means associated with said gate for tripping said secondary control switch for alternately closing the first mentioned and second mentioned circuits for controlling the opening and closing of said gate. 7

3. A gate closing mechanism comprising a gate; a control magnet; a circuit for actuating sald control magnet; a control switch actuated by said control magnet; a driving magnet for closing said gate; a release magnet; an interrupter switch; a secondary control switch; an operating circuit connecting said control switch, said secondary control switch, said driving magnet and said interrupter switch with a source of electrical supply for actuating said driving magnet closing said gate; a releasing circuit connecting said control switch with a secondary control switch, and said release magnet with a source of electrical supply; and a cam ring associated with said gate and adapted to trip said secondary control switch for alternately making and breaking said operating circuits and controlling the opening and closing of said gate.

4. A gate closing mechanism comprising a gate, an operating gear carried thereby, a second gear, pawls engaging the teeth of said second gear, means for moving said pawls and rotating said second gear a predetermined distance at each movement of said pawls, means 'for releasing said pawls, and means for swinging said gate to an'open position after said releasing means has been actuated.

.5.,A device comprising a gate, a driving gear, an operating gear meshing with said driving ear, pawls engaging the teeth of said operating gear for rotating said gear at each operation of saidepawls, an armature supporting one of said pawls, electrical means cooperating with said armature for swinging the same, and means carried by said operating gear forrendering said electrical operating means vfor said armature inactive at se lective positions. a l r 6. A device comprising a gate, a gear carried thereby, a driving gear meshing with said first mentioned gear, an operating gear operatively connected to said last mentioned gear, a pawl engaging the teeth of said opcrating gear, a relay for operating said pawl and rotating said last mentioned. ear, and circuit closing means 'for closing an electric circuit through said relay. 7. A device comprising a gate, a driving gear, an operating gear, ,a plurality of pawls adapted to engage said operating gear for rotating the same, a cam ring carried by said operating gear, a circuit closing member comprising a plurality of spring contact arms, a plurality of swinging contact arms adapted to alternately engage said spring contact arms, saidv cam rings adapted to engage said swinging arm for alternately swinging the same to an open and closed position, a driving relay, means. carried by said driving relay for swinging said pawls for drivingsaid operating gear, means for closing an electric circuit through said driving relay, and meansv for swinging said pawls to an inoperative position.

8. A railroadgate operating mechanism comprising a gate, an operating gear therefor, pawls engaging said gear for rotating the same, a circuit closing'cam wheel, a-plurality of swinging contact arms supported adjacent said wheel, a plurality of stationary contact arms associated with said swinging contact arms and located adjacent said wheel, said cam wheel adapted to engage said swinging contact arms for alternately swinging the same into and out or" contact with the respective stationary arms, a driv ing'relay, an electric circuit connecting said driving relay with one of said stationary arms and with one of'said swinging arms, a make and break switch located in said circuit, a track relay, a circuit for actuating said track relay, means carried by said track relay for actuating said switch as said track relay isenergized and deenergized, a releasing relay, a circuit connecting one of said swinging arms with said releasing relay and also with one of said stationary contact arms, said circuit passing through said make and break switch and means connecting said releasing relay with said pawls for swinging said pawls to an inoperative position after said track relay has been deenergized. v

9. A railroad crossing gate operating mechanism comprising a gate, an operating gear, a plurality of pawls engaging said op erating gear for rotating the same, a driving relay, an armature engaging said driving relay, and actuated thereby and supporting one of said pawls, a contact arm supported above'said armature and connected there with, a second contact arm supported above said first mentioned contact arm, said second contact arm adapted to make and break the circuit with said first mentioned contact arm, for alternately swinging the pawl carried by said armature upwardly and downwardly, a circuit connecting said driving relay with said contact arms, said pawl car ried by said armature adapted to rotate said operating gear, the other pawl adapted to prevent the rotation of said operating gear in the opposite direction, means for connecting said pawls together for causing the same to swing in unison in a downward direction, means for pivotally supporting the second mentioned pawl against bodily movement, a releasing relay adapted to actuate said second pawl for swinging the same out of engagement with said operating gear and simultaneously swinging said first mentioned pawl out of engagement with said gear, and means for electrically controlling the operation of said circuits.

10. A railroad gate operating mechanism comprising a gate, an operating gear, a pawl engaging said gear and adapted to rotate the same, an armature supporting said pawl and adapted to be swung upwardly and downwardly for the purpose of operating said gear, a second pawl adapted to engage said gear for normally preventing the rotation of said gear in a returned direction, a pair of swinging contact arms connected together and being insulated from each other, stationary spring contact arms interposed between said swinging arms, a cam ring adapted to engage said swinging arm for alternately swinging said swinging contact arm into and out of engagement with the respective stationary contact arms when engaged with and released from said cam ring, a driving relay cooperating with said armature for actuating said first mentioned pawl, a circuit for controlling the operation of said driving relay, said circuit also being connected to one of said swinging contact arms and one of said stationary contact arms, a make and break switch lo cated in said circuit, a track relay for controlling the operation of said circuit, a release relay adapted to operate said second mentioned pawl, whereby both of said pawls will be thrown out of engagement with said gear, an auxiliary circuit electrically connected to said releasing relay and to the remainingswinging arm and stationary contact arm and in circuit with said make and break switch, said track relay actuating said make and break switch and adapted to cause said auxiliary circuit to be rendered active when said track relay is deenergized.

11. A railroad gate operating mechanism comprising a gate, a gate raising and lowering mechanism, a driving relay for actuating said raising and lowering mechanism, a primary circuit connected to said relay, an alarm located in said circuit, a make and break switch located in said circuit, a track relay for actuating said make and break switch, a circuit closing mechanism normally retained in a closed position located in said circuit, the make and break switch maintaining said circuit normally in an open condition and adapted to render said circuit active when said track relay is energized, a release relay for releasing said gate lowering mechanism and permitting said gate to return to an open position, means for actuating said circuit closing means for swinging the circuit closing means of the first mentioned circuit to an open position, an auxiliary circuit for actuating said release relay and connecting the same to said alarm and also to said make and break switch, said make and break switch being normally swung to a closed position within said auxiliary circuit, a second circuit closing means associated with said first mentioned circuit closing means and adapted to be swung to a closed position as the first,

mentioned circuit closing means is swung to an open position, for actuating said release relay as said track relay is deenergized.

12. A gate closing mechanism comprising a gate, means for operating said gate and moving the same to a closed position in a step by step movement, electrical controlled means for actuating said last mentioned means, from a distant point, means engaging said gate for automatically swinging the same to an open position when released, and a secondary electrically operated means actuated from a distant point and cooperating with said step by step closing means for 

